Feed mechanism



June 30, 1942. c. c. scHAEFl-:R r-:TL

FEED MECHANISM Original Filed June 10, '1939 6 Sheets-Sheet l on led,

June 30, 1942. c. c. scHAEFER ET AL 2,288,031

FEED MECHANISM Original Filed June l0. 1939 6 JSheetsf-Sheet 2 Y June 30, 1942- y c. scHAEl-ER ETAI. 2,288,031 FEED MECHANISM Original Filed June 10,1959 l(s sheets-sheet vs WITNEssEs:

BY Ham Maag A TTORNE YS.

June 30, 1942.

`FEED MECHANISM Original Filed June l0, 1959 c. c. 'sci-IAEFER ET AL 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 unal@ 147 l/ l/ A TTORN YS.

June 30 1942. c. Q.- SCHAFER ET Al,r 2,288,031

FEED MECHANISM n riginal Filed June 10. 1939 FI Cr' 1%.

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 W1 TNESSES;

BY @www A TTORNE YS.

Patented June 30, 1942 v azsaoal FEED MECHANISM Charles C. Schaefer and VSoren A. Tollefson, Oaklyn, and Herman F. Nied, Camden, J.

original application, June 10,. V1ste), serial No.

278,574. Divided and thsapplicaton September 19, 1941, Serial No. 411,460Vv 15 claims.

This invention relates to feed mechanism and, more particularly, to the type whereby a stack of articles, such as thin discs, may be removed from a magazine and differentially coated with silver and carbon to vary the ohms resistance capacity. Specifically, the subject matter comprehended herein is a division from the application for patent filed by the instant inventors on June 10, 1939, under Serial No. 278,574; allowed March 20, 1941, and which has matured into Patent No. 2,259,588, dated October 21, 1941.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a machineas typified in the noted prior application, wherein the discs are transported by a continuously moving conveyor characterized by novel means for concurrently feeding in the successive discs without stoppage of said conveyor Other objects of a tributory character in addition to ancillary advantages achieved by this invention will be apparent from, or specifically noted in, the following description; and it may be said to essentially comprise the elements and combinations of the same, features of construc tion, and arrangements of parts -that are typically sh'own in the preferred embodiment illustrated by the accompanying sheets of drawings, and the scope of application whereof is more particularly defined in the concluding claims.

In the drawings: Y

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of the machine illustrated in the above identified application for patent and preferably adapted for applying resistance deposits to rheostat discs for use in radio volumecontrol units and embodying the improved feed of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view within the confines of the plane indicating arrows II-II of Fig. l., also drawnto a larger scale for clearer illustration of important details.

Fig. 3 is a part section and part elevation the plane III- III in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan section of the disc magazaine and mechanism for feeding the successive discs to the conveyor means, said section being taken approximately on the staggered piane IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the arrowed plane V-V in Figs. 2 and 8.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, within the limits of the arrows VI-VI in Fig. 2, or through the feed portion of the disc magazine, drawn to a larger scale for better illustration how Ismccessiwe discs are initially removedfrom the mechanisms magazinefor transfer into registration with conveyor carrier elements. v Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section, on the plane VII-VII'in Fig. 6, hereinafter fully explained. Fig. 8. is a fragmentary elevation as viewed from the leftLhand and looking towards the right ofFig. 5; I Y.

9 is a sectionl on the plane IX-.IX of Fig. S. Fig. 10 is a fragmentarysectional view of the lower'central portion of Fig. 6, on a larger scale,

showing ai disc in position ready for projection against a conveyor chain carrier element.

Fig, 11 isa detailperspective view of a retainer means effective for preventing the discs from rdropping away Vfrom. the feed mechanism trans- Fig. 12`is` a fragmentary `sectional 'view through the lmagazine disc' delivering end.

Fig. 13 is asimilarvi'ew to the` preceding as seerf from therevers'eside thereof and with certain 'movable partsin a different position.

Fig 14 is` a fragmentary elevation Vand part sectional view on thestaggered plane XIV-XIV of Fig. 6; but drawn to'a smallerv scale'.

Figs. 15 and 16'are fragmentary Viewsv similar to Fig. 14, but showing different positionsl of the disc ejector member in moving the consecutive discs from the 'magazine into position for application to the conveyor carrier elements; and,

Fig, 17 is a plan section, taken approximately as indicated by the arrows XVII-XVII in Fig. 6, andmsliowing suitable pneumatic devices for blowing the successive discs from the transfer means onto an opposing carrier element with a disc'invpo'sition' 'on said carrier element.

In the illustrated'embodiment of this invention as preferably adapted to the application of resistance 'deposits' of predetermined areas and.

density to rheostat discs for radio volume conftrol '.units,4 corresponding reference characters are employed to'v those'used in the referred to prior application for facility -in understanding; and as therein set forth, the machine comprises a framework I, for a continuously operable conveyor 4, and a magazine with feed mechanism comprehensively designated 5. The endless conveyor 4 is driven by a sprocket 24 on a transverse shaft 35, journaled in bearings 26, at the feed end of the machine, or right-hand of Figs. 1 and 2. The chain 23 of the conveyor 4 as described in the hereinbefore referred to application comprises conventional spaced links 30 with alternating rectangular plate or somewhat T-section components 3I` along one Side thereof, as best. appreciated from Figs. .6 and l0, .saisi components 3| being of greater depth than the width of the links 30, as best shown in said figures. To each components 3| is affixed, as by a set-screw 32, a rectangular carrier 33 having an undulate recess 34 in the upper part, and outset opposedly inclined lugs 35, preferably ccnstituted by the flanges of channel section elements 35, best seen in Fig. l0, clamped thereto by set-screws 31, with said flanges engaged through complemental slots in the carrier 33, so as to ensure against relative movement. These flanges or lugs 35 serve to engage through apertures 38, Fig. 8, and grip the tapering central part 39 of the rheostat discs 49 to support the latter. 'Io prevent the active flight of the conveyor 4 from lifting as well as to positively ensure its aligned progression along the track 21, Fig. 6, in respect to the feed mechanisms of this invention, said track is fitted at regular intervals of its length with appropriate spacers 42, and a member 43 paralleling such track. This member 43, in conjunction With thetrack 21 jointly afford smooth guidance for the conveyor links 39 with the T-section components 3| riding along the edge of member 43, as clearly understandable from Figs. 3, 6 and 10, more particularly.

Mounted on the framework I, proximate the feed end of the machine, is a rigid fulcrum bracket 44 having pivoted thereto at 45 an actuator lever 45 to the outer end of which is connected one extremity of a recoil spring 41 having its other end coupled to a suitable anchor 48, secured at 49 Yto Ythe end of the framework l. Fixed to the actuator lever 46, with capacity for adjustment as by appropriate clamp means 5, Fig. 2, is a pawling element 5| having an antifriction roller 52 at its free end, in turn coactive with a tooth cam 53 fast .on the shaft 25, whereby the lever 46 is rocked cn its pivot 45 in opposition to the spring 41, for a purpose later explained.

Spanning the framework and attached thereto by spaced brackets 54 and a foot structure 55, Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6, is the magazine and feed mechanism 5. This mechanism comprises an inclined chute 55 including a bottom bar 51, Fig. 14, side bars 58 and a top bar 59 having an inwardly directed rib 60 for coaction with the V-notch 6| of the rheostat discs 49. The bars 51, 58 and 59 are secured in relative assembly, to afford smooth guidance for a column of rheostat discs 49, by connecting collars 62 with screws 63, Fig. 3, in an obvious manner, to ensure accurate parallelism and alignment; while the lower end collar 62 preferably forms part of the foot structure 55, as best understood from Figs. 3 and 6. The foot structure 55 embodies a base 64 with spaced uprights 65 and a relatively adjustable spanning wall 66, Figs. 3, 4 and 6, said wall being disposed at right angles to the longitudinal inclination of the chute 56 and having spaced grooves 61 therein for wear bars 68 which are influenced towards the discharge end of said chute by socketed pins 69 under the action of pushers 19 afforded guidance by adjustable screws 1|, and having springs 12 in `compression intermediate the head portions of said screws and the outer face of the pushers 15. It is to be here noted that the socketed pins 69, carried by the wear bars-68, are of such a length to normally project beyond the outer surface of the connection wall 56 so as to hold the pushers 1 inclined relative to said surface, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6. In addition to the grooves 61 in the foot piece spanning wall 55, the latter has flanking other grooves 13, Figs, il and 14-16, affording guidance i for slide bars 14 connected together at the upper ends by a tie piece 15, and to which the inner end of the actuator lever 45 is pivotally connected by a shouldered stud 16. Also bridging and rigidly secured to the slide bar 14 is an ejector plate 11 of appropriate thickness to remove the successive rheostat discs 45 from the chute 56, as hereinafter set forth; while it is to be particularly observed the ejector plate 11 is provided with an arcuate cut-out 13 and central tongue 19 adapted to jointly coact with the rheostat disc circumferential edge and V-notch 6| respectively, Figs. 15 and 16, to effectively prevent displacement or turning movement of the discs 40 during removal from the chute 56; and 88 is a face plate secured to the spaced uprights 65 for retaining the wear bars 68 and slide bars 14 in their respective grooves 61 and 13, said face plate having a cut-out 8|, Figs. 3, 6 and 10, accommodating reciprocative clearance for the slide bars 14 and tie piece 15.

Arranged below the ejector plate 11 and associated parts is a disc receiver and temporary holder conveniently in the form of a bar 82 having a longitudinal rib.83 andan inclined interruption or recess 84 in confronting juxtaposition to an air nozzle 55, as Well as in spacial relation to the successive conveyor chain disc Ycarriers 33, as later on again Ireferred to. As will be best understood from Figs. 10, 11 and 17, inclusive, the interruption 84 defines sectoral edges 85, on which the lower circumferential edge of each consecutive disc 49 released by the ejector plate 11 temporarily rests and is so held by a suitably contoured or undulate spring 81. In addition the bar 82 is also provided with paralleling flexible wires 83 functional to hold the discs 49 against the carrier 33 until effectively held thereagainst by the inclined lugs 35 hereinbefore referred to.

In order that the inclined chute 55 may be kept continuously replenished with discs 40, said chute is preferably made in two sections which are connected together by screws 89, with wing nuts respectively secured in and coactive with intermediate collars 62', 62", Figs. 3 and 4, with the one section being removable by releasing said nuts 9G and lifting from support by the spaced brackets 54, for relling with discs 4 when emptied, and replacement in an obvious manner. Slidably fitting the chute 55 is a feed block or follower 9| having a radially projecting hook 92, at one side of the chute 56, to which is attached one end of a flexible cord or the like93, in turn trained around a freely rotative sheave- 94 in a bearing 95 carried by the foot structure 55, and a second sheave 96 in a bearing 91 carried by the collar 62 and having a'weight 98 at its free end. The follower 9| serves to maintain the column of discs 45 compacted towards the lower end of the chute 55 in contact with the wear bars 68.

In order that the discs 40 may be constantly held under forward influence towards the wear bars 68 when the upper chute section is removed, as aforesaid, for relling, there is provided a second pull-influenced means at the opposite side of the chute 55 and comprising a block 99 of suitable cross-section to movably coact with one of the chute side bars 58 and the top bar `59 as clearly shown in Fig. 14 This block 99 normally occupies the position shown in Fig. 3, or in abutment with the foot structure 55, and it is provided with a lateral hook or pin |90 to which one end of a flexible cord or the like |8| is attached, while said cord is trained around a sheave |92 carried by a bearing |03 on the foot structure 55 and a second sheave |04 in a bearing |05 on the collar 62' with a weight |06 at its free end. In addition the block 99 is provided with a push-in slide |01 under control of a spring-influenced snap device |08, best shown in Fig. 13. Now it will be readily understood that when the supply of discs 40 passes below the collar 62 the operator slides the block 99 upwards, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 13, for example, and pushes in the slide |01 between the uppermost disc 40 and the bottom face of the follower 9| in opposition to the snap device |08. From Fig. 13 it will be seen the inner end of the push-in slide |01 is chamfered down at |09 to aid its free insertion, as well as having a recess l for coaction with the snap device |08 to hold said slide in the active position for feeding the discs 40 forward under influence of the weight |05. Incident to the operation just described, the operator releases the cord 93 from the follower hook 92, whereupon the chute upper section, and follower 9|, can be removed by disconnecting the wing nuts 99 from. the screws 89 and the said section refilled with discs 40 and the follower 9| replaced and attached to the cord 93 after the upper section is reconnected by the wing nuts 90 and screws 89. Obviously, as soon as the disc replenishment is effected, as just explained the slide |01 is retracted when the weight |06 automatically retracts the block 99 to its normal position in abutment with the foot structure 55, and it will be appreciated that by the means described feeding forward of the discs 40 continues uninterruptedly as long as the machine is in operation.

In order to transfer each successively released disc 40 from the inclined recess 84, let it be first remarked the latter is provided with a cut-out into which the laterally collapsed end ||2 of the nozzle 85 projects, Figs. 10 and 1'1, and that such transfer is effected by intermittent blasts of pressure air emitted by said nozzle. 'I'he nozzle 85 is under control of a magnetic valve as set forth in the hereinbefore identified prior application of a patent, said valve'in turn being actuated by a suitable switch H4, Figs. 3, 6 and 17, intermittently operated by a spring-inuenced angle member fulcrumed by a sleeve IIB, to a pillar ||1, secured in a table plate 43 attached to the member 43 by clamp screws 43, see Figs. 6 and 17 to best advantage. Pressure air is supplied to the nozzle 85 from any convenient source of supply, not shown; while the magnetic switch I4 is actuated to open and close by a trip portion |20 of the member ||5 engaging the head of the set screws 31, hereinbefore referred to, as the conveyor chain 23 progresses.

At this juncture, note is to be had that, in order to keep the conveyor chain 23 from displacement incident to machine vibration or other causes, use is made of a iioating plate |2| afforded vertical guidance by the sleeve H6, and spaced pins |22 having their upper ends screw threaded for engage-ment by wing nuts |23 with interposed springs |24, and another guide pin or pins |25 functional to prevent planar inclination of floating plate |2I, said plate having an undercut groove |26 for coaction with the top edge of the special chain links or T-shaped components 3|. In addition to the means just described and in order to prevent deiiection of the carrier members 33, under influence of the pressure air when transferring released discs 40 to said members, a buier device is provided, said device comprising a bar |21, see Figs. 6 and 7,

which is rigidly fixed by screw studs |21 to thev foot structure abutting collar B2 with projection therebelow. Supported by the bar |21 is a, buffer member |28 having spaced studs |29 with encircling coil springs |30, housed in holes |3| through said bar, with the opposed ends of said springs engaging a flat adjuster member |32 held in place on the bar |21 by a screw |33. The member |32 is variably flexed to hold the buffer member |28 in such a position that the conveyor carrier members 33 are maintained vertical during successive impacts of the air blasts emitted by the nozzle 85.

In order that the successive discs applied to the consecutive carriers 33 may be rmly retained in position for deposit application and to prevent any rotary movement thereof relative to the inclined lugs 35, use is made of a wedging device seen to best advantage in Figs. 5 and 8, and

comprehensively designated |39. This wedging device |34 comprises a Vertical bracket |35, secured on the member 43 in proximity to the chute 56, said bracket having guide races |36 in which a slide |31 is movable, while the slide |31 has a freely rotative roller |30 in its lower part, adapted to ride along the top edge of the carrier Amembers 33. This sli-de |31 is downwardly influenced by a spring |39 anchored at oneend to an apertured strap |40 secured across the races |30; and at the other end coupled at lill to a block |132, vertically adjustable by a screw |43, threadedly engaged in the upper end of the slide |31, and said block M2 is prevented from rotary movement by a guide pin |54 in a clearly apparent manner, while it will be observed the block |02 also serves as a downward movement limiting stop for said slide |31. In combination with the wedging device ISL'Lthere is provided a laterally effective pusher or holder for coaction with the wires 90 carried by the bar 82, said holder |45 preferably being in the form of an angle section slide with suitable projections |46 for coaction with the wires 88, and it is guided in appropriate Ystationary groove means |01. The holder |45 has an anchorage |93 for one end of a retractile spring |49, the other end whereof is attached to a second anchorage |50 projecting from one of the groove means |41, thus it will be seen the holder is constantly inuenced towards the wedging device |34 whereby the conveyor chain special components 3| and attached carriers 33 are held vertical during operation of the disc wedging 'device |34.

Referring again to the magazine and feed mechanism 5, the grooved spanning wall 06 supporting the Wear bars 68 and slide bars 1d, said wall preferably seats at the sides in edge grooves 214, Figs. 6 and 10, in the spaced uprights 65, and it is provided at the lower portion with flanges 215 having extensions 216 slidable in grooves 211 in said spaced uprights 55. In addition, the flanges 215 have elongated slots 213 through which spaced clamp screws 219 engage correspondingly threaded holes in the uprights 65 whereby provision is made foradjustment of the plane of the wall 50, as well as the disc receiving and holder bar 82, into close proximity and true parallelism with the conveyor chain V23. This provision for adjustment of the holder bar B2 relative to the path of travelof the conveyor chain 23 is of prime importance, inasmuch as it enables prevention of flight caroming of the discs d0 from the inclined recess 0d in said bar under influence of the pressure air blast from the nozzle 85. Furthermore, in order to also prevent pocketing of air intermediate the disc 40 asit impacts the=carrier33 for-iengagement by theinclined lugs 35, said carrier'is-preferably-provided with air escape holes .289 v(Fig. 10) therethrough, whereby anyA glancing action of the discflight, in respect to the carrier '33 iseifectively avoided. In other words, by the provisions just described, irregular impacts of the discsfd against Ythe carrier 33 is prevented, andfailure of the disc Yl0 being automatically engaged by `the lugs 535 rendered impossible. It is to benoted the actuator lever A6 is provided with a hole 212 for registration with a corresponding aperture 213 in theconnector wall 66 of the magazine and ffeed mechanism 5, see Figs. 1 an-d '7; so that -when desired the pawling element 5l maybe raised out of engagement with the tooth .cam 53,`by inserting a pin (not shown) into said hole 212-and aperture .213.

The structural features of the invention, as well as the coordinative relationship ofthe mechanisms having been explained, operation of the feed mechanism 5 and associated wedging device is briefly as follows: When the actuator lever 46 is released so that the roller 52 of the pawling element 5| eoacts with the tooth cam'53,iwhereby the disc feeding ejector plate H becomes intermittently activated to successively remove a disc 46 from the inclined chute 56 into the province of the air nozzle 85, it will be readily-understood that the intermittent blasts of pressure air emitted by the nozzle85 alternate in timed relation with the disposal of the consecutively released discs 4i), in front of the collapsed end H2 of said nozzle, so that the disc 40 is projected onto the registering carrier 33 for engagement by the inclined lugs 35, during the period of retraction of the ejector plate 1l, and its positioning ready to release the next disc 40 from the chute 56. Immediately following the operation just described and, incident to continuous progression of the conveyor chain 23 the carrier 33, with the applied disc 40, passes below the presser roller |38 which forces said disc into gripped relation by the inclined lugs 35 to prevent its oscillation to the right or left hand, as hereinbefore explained.

From the foregoing the invention will be clearly understood and its advantages fully appreciated, and it will also be readily understood a simple and-eicient vmeans is provided for carrying out the stated objects of the invention. Still further, although one practical embodiment of the invention has been particularly explained with elements and means preferably adapted to perform the functions set forth, for a specific purpose, it is obvious that various changes in form and other applications of the inventive features may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. Mechanism for feeding individual elements to a moving conveyor, adapted for continuo-us progression, and including means for supporting the elements in vertical position, a container for the elements with means urging them toward an outlet orifice, a sustaining means for the elements, a device for ejeoting the elements individually through the container outlet and depositing them on an adjacent holder, means operating said device incidental to progression of the conveyor, and the holder embodying Va recess for temporary reception o-f the'disc; means to prevent vibratory displacement of the disc from the holder recess; means in juxtaposition tc the saidholder effective to project the ,element therefrom :into coaction `with the conveyor supporting means; .a suitably influenced thrust device, inthe path of the conveyoractive flight operative topushthe elementsreceivedby the conveyor into Vgrippage by the .lateral projections aforesaid; andbuifermeans constraining the element carrying supports from inclination during the impact caused by the disc ejector.

2. .Mechanism as Vdefined in claim `1 further characterized in that .the conveyor comprises spaced links with alternating rectangular section carriercomponents `along one side thereof,.said .componentsbeing of substantially greatendepth vthan the 4widthfof the spaced links and eachhaving ian undulate recessinthe upper portion; and downwardlyjmerging lugs proj ect outwardsv from said carrier ,components.foricoaction witha correspondingly tapered approximately `central part of the-individual elementszto .be progressed by the conveyor.

`3..Mechanism.as defined in 'claim 1 wherein the'elements'to .begfedare inthe form of discs, the `container therefor andthe forwardly urging means comprise a foot structure .of Vspaced uprights with a relatively adjustable spanning wall at an inclination to the vertical; a-chute is supportedloy the spanning wallataninclination to the horizontal; Va reciprocatory ejectorplateoperates .intermediate the foot structure spanning wall andthe adjoining endof the inclined chute; .weightinfluenced elements urge .the discs towards the 'chute .outlet end land confronting ejector plate; mechanism operative from the conveyor Yprogressingmeans reciprocates the ejectorv plate and means whereby said mechanism may be held out of action during .initialprogression of the conveyor.

A4. A container and feed mechanism, for a lcontinuouslyprogressible conveyor, comprising a foot structurefaiording rigid `support for a con- .tainerchute inclinedto the horizontal to feed consecutivedisc elements to the conveyor, said chute consisting of a section rigidly'l secured to thefoot structureand an aligned relatively removable section, adjustable wear elements in the foot structure confronting the chute outlet end, parallel vslide-bars in the foot-structure carrying an ejector member for successive removal of the disc lelements from the chute, a weight-influenced follower slidable inthe chute and urging .the disc elements to its outlet end, an auxiliary weight-influenced follower effective to continue .forward urging of the discs after the chute removable section-'islemptied of discs and detached for refilling, a temporary holder forthediscs as consecutively removed from the chuteymeans operati-vely coordinating the ejector slide vbars to .the conveyor progressing means, and a buffer device-effective to maintain the conveyor parallel .tothe disc vholder during advancement in ,par4 allelismto the latter.

5. A containerand feed mechanism, for a-con- Itinuously progressible link chain conveyorwith vertical carrier components along one side therecf, comprisinga foot structure embodying spaced walls `with grooved edges inclined over from the vertic'aL-a spanning member seated in the grooved Iedges, `said spanning member having flanking flanges shiftable along grooves in the foot strucconveyor carrier components, said chute including a detachable outer section, adjustable wear bars in the spanning member confronting the chute outlet for sustaining the discs, fianking slide bars in the spanning member with the upper ends connected by a bridge piece, an ejector plate attached across the slide bars and movable therewith for successive removal of the discs from the chute, a main Weight-infiuenced follower slidable in the chute to urge the discs into coaction with the ejector plate, an auxiliary follower movable along the chute with means shiftable into coaction with the outermost disc, when the detachable section of said chute is removed for refilling, a notched holder carried by the spanning member for temporary reception of each consecutively ejected disc with means restraining the disc against rotary movement, pressure medium conductive means effective to project the disc from the holder into engagement with receiving lugs on the conveyor carrier components, fiexible means sustained by the holder to retain the successive discs in engagement with the carrier receiving lugs, guide means confining the conveyor to parallel progression in respect to the disc ejector and holder, a floating member adapted to restrain the conveyor carriers against misalignment, a pivotal member movable by a projection from each conveyor carrier to actuate means controlling the flow of pressure medium from the conductive means aforesaid, a buffer device coactive with the carrier upper edges to resist the impact effect of the pressure medium fiows, actuator means operatively coordinating the bridge piece of the slide bars with the conveyor progressing means, and means whereby said actuator may be held out of operation.

6. A container and feed mechanism for discs as defined in claim wherein the foot structure comprises a base with spaced side walls having opposed edges inclined to the vertical and longitudinally grooved inward thereof, a horizontal groove in the lower inner face of each said wall, an intervening plate member, engageable in the base side wall inclined grooves, said plate member embodying fianking flange portions coactive with the side wall horizontal grooves, spring-influenced rectangular section wear bars seated in complemental section grooves in the outer face of the plate member, positioning pins firmly secured in said wear bars to engage through holes in the plate member, and spring-influenced pusher to coact with the outer ends of said pins to normally urge the latter and associated wear bars forwardly.

7. A container and feed mechanism for sectorally notched discs as defined in claim 5, wherein the fixed and detachable inclined chute sections comprise annularly spaced paralleling top, bottom and side bars retained in assembly by end and intermediate attached collars, said top bar having an inwardly directed longitudinal rib for coaction with the disc sectoral notch, the main disc follower is provided with a radial hook, a flexible cord. connects at one end to the hook and coacts with freely rotative sheaves supported by the chute fixed section, and a weight is attached to the other end of said cord to maintain the follower in forwardly urging contact with the outermost disc in the chute.

8. A container and feed mechanism for sectorally notched discs as defined in claim 5, wherein the chute comprises annularly spaced parallelirig top, bottom and side bars retained in assembly by attached end collars, the auxiliary disc follower consists of an appropriately sectioned block for slidable coaction-between an adjacent pair of the bars aforesaid, a fiexible cord is attached at one end to the follower and is trained around freely. rotative sheaves carried by the end collars with a weight at its free end, a slide in said block movable radially inward of the chute for engagement on the outermost disc, and a snap device coacts with a recess in the slide for holding the latter in active position.

9. A container and feed mechanism for sectorally notched discs as defined in claim 5 wherein the ejector plate has an arcual cut-out and a central tongue for respective joint coaction with the disc circumferential edge and sectoral notch during ejection of consecutive discs from the container.

l0. A container and feed mechanism for sectorally notched discs as defined in claim 5, wherein the ejected disc receiver and holder is in the form of a longitudinally ribbed bar, said bar having a cut-out for central alignment below the ejector plate with an associated interruption through the bar rib, an inclined recess in advance of the bar cut-out flanks the same sidewise with formation of disc supporting sectoral edges, and an undulate spring strip at the forward side of the. inclined recess holds the disc therein against rotary displacement.

11. A container and feed mechanism for sectorally notched discs as defined in claim 5, wherein the holder for the disc, after release by the ejector plate, is further characterized by parallel fiexible wires functional to hold the disc, after projection from the holder by the pressure means, firmly against the conveyor vertical component receiving lugs.

l2. A container and feed mechanism for sectorally notched discs as defined in claim 5, wherein the pressure medium conductive means comprises a vertically collapsed nozzle which seats in the holder notch, a suitable valve controls discharge of the pressure medium from such nozzle, and switch means including a spring-influenced trip device coacts with spaced projections from the conveyor carrier components, to intermittently actuate the valve aforesaid.

13. A container and feed mechanism for sectorally notched discs as defined in claim 5, wherein the means confining the conveyor to parallel progression with respect to the disc ejector and holder comprise an angled thrust device, said device embodying a horizontal and vertical portions with the former movable in fixed guides,

- parallel projections laterally extend from the Vertical portion of said device in coactive confronting relation to the conveyor components, and spring means influence the device towards the conveyor carrier components.

i4. A container and feed mechanism for sectorally notched discs as defined in claim 5, wherein the buffer device, coactive with the conveyor carrier component upper edges, comprises a bar fixed to the foot structure, said bar having spaced holes housing coil springs, a buffer member parallels the bar with studs passed into the coil springs,

the actuator lever and the other coupledh to a other end of the.. actuator and the disc: ejector stationary anchorage, an. angularly adjustable plate slidebars; and.meanswherebyfthepawling paWling. element is carried by the:l actuator lever element' may be supported outof coacton with intermediate theY pifvot of*` the latter. and the rethe tooth. cam.

coil spring, an' antifrction roller'. at the free end 5 CHARLES C, SCHAEFER. off the pawlng elementi coasts with a; suitable SOREN A, TOLLEFSON, tooth camrfast' on the proximatev driven shaft of HERMAN F, NIED,

the conveyor, a pivotal connection between the 

